Softball | 11/14/2016 1:20:00 PM
DETROIT -- The softball field at Wayne State University has been named Gary L. Bryce Field in honor of the head coach who is in his 36th season at WSU this school year.
"There are a number of testaments to impactful coaches throughout America's sports history," stated WSU Director of Athletics
Rob Fournier. "But none as significant as the naming of a competitive athletic venue. Through conference titles, NCAA tournament appearances, three World Series and one of the nation's most impressive records of success, the Gary L. Bryce Field is a fitting tribute to those accomplishments. His legacy will long be recognized in this softball field that will enshrine his name, and just as importantly, in the countless graduates of this remarkable softball program."
After leading the Warriors to the second-most single-season wins (50) in school history in 2016, Bryce will enter 2017 10th on the NCAA All-Time Wins list (all three Divisions combined) with 1,209 victories.
On April 23, 2016, Bryce became the 10th coach in NCAA softball history to reach the 1,200 win plateau as the Warriors swept Ashland. WSU rallied from an 8-0 deficit to win the opener 12-8, then run-ruled the Eagles 9-1 in the nightcap for the historic victory.
Bryce will begin 2017 second on the all-time Division II chart trailing by only six wins Bloomsburg's Jan Hutchinson (1978-2010), who garnered 1,215 wins in her 33 seasons.
Entering the 2017 season, Bryce has coached 37 All-Americans on the field (5 Converse, 23 NFCA and nine Daktronics/D2CCA) and nine CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in his career, including current assistant coach
Pat Kent. His Warrior teams have reached the NCAA Division II College World Series (Elite Eight) on three occasions in 2003, 2010 and 2014. Bryce's squads have won the last five GLIAC Tournament titles compiling a 22-2 record over those five tournaments.
A 2008 inductee into the NFCA Hall of Fame, Bryce has led WSU to 10 NCAA tournament appearances in the last 11 seasons.
"I was overwhelmed and humbled," said Bryce, "but I realize it took a lot of people for my name to be up there. All the administrators, assistant coaches and players throughout the years have made this possible. Without their help this would have never happened. I'm just at the end of the straw. I'm very fortunate to have this done and I thank everybody involved."
